July

July 31^st  :

Respect the privacy of others

• Computing and communication technology enables the collection and exchange of personal information on the network.
• Thus there by creating the potential for violating the privacy of individuals users and groups.
• This includes taking precautions to ensure the accuracy of data, as well as protecting it from unauthorized access.
• Giving out personal information on others may seem harmless, it can potentially cause significant harm to them, allowing identity fraud, and physical attacks.

July 30^th  :

Never meet a stranger in person whom you meet every day online (Cyber pal)

• The person whom you meet daily in online might be right person or might not be. They may give wrong information of their details. 
• So be careful in arranging a meeting with a stranger you just met on the Net.
• If you choose to meet, do so in a public place and take along a friend.
• Although there is a chance that the person you are meeting is a good person, there is also a fifty percent chance that the stranger you are exchanging messages with is a criminal
• Be aware that people may not be who they say they are. Someone who says he is a 20-year old boy may really be an older man
• Never send your Personal information or pictures to anyone over the Internet that you do not know

July 29^th  :

Always record the online conversation for future reference

• Always try to record the online conversation for future reference
• The other person who is communicating with you if he misuses the information or do any crime by using the information which is provided during online communication
• He can be caught by using the information which is recorded during the online conversation

July 28^th  :

If you receive strange messages during chatting, report to the concerned chat room moderators

• Always inform to the concerned chat room moderators if someone upsets you or makes you uncomfortable during chatting
• Stop conversation with the strangers
• Do not give your personal information like your name, location name where you are staying, credit card information…etc in the chat room. Because the conversation is observed by other persons also.
• Do not send your files like your photos...etc to the strangers.

July 27^th  :

Avoid file transfers during chatting as that may control your system

• Avoid transferring the files during chatting as that may control your system
• So be careful while downloading the files during chatting
• Before opening the file scan the file with anti-virus software which will protect your system from being affected by viruses , spam or worms

July 26^th  :

Never give your images while doing internet chatting

• Never give out identifying information such as your address, phone number, school name, town, etc. in chat rooms, forums
• Never send information or pictures to anyone over the Internet that you do not know
• Never agree to meet anyone in person that you have met online.

July 25^th  :

Always use a nickname or alias name to sign into a chat room

• Do not use your real name or user ID to sign into a chat room. Use nickname or alias name.
• Do not post personal information in chat room
• On the Internet more particularly in chat rooms, nothing is easier than to pretend to be someone else.
• Some people take advantage of the relative anonymity offered by the Net to lie about their age, sex, occupation and... Intentions

July 24^th  :

Make sure you regularly update your antivirus software

• Use anti-virus software to scan your system for viruses
• Update the anti-virus software regularly with latest patches
• Keep your anti-virus program running all the time to identify new threats as they come in
• This will protect your machine from becoming infected
• If anti-virus program is running on your machine, when you receive an email with an attachment, it will protect you by scanning the attachment before you open it.
• If the attachment contains a virus, the anti-virus program will warn you before you open it and the infection mechanism is activated.
• Update your virus definitions daily.
• Daily scan your hard drive for viruses

July 23^rd  :

Always scan files to avoid viruses before you use them

• Install anti – virus software in your systems to avoid viruses Use anti - virus scanners to scan the files
• Before downloading the files from the internet scan them to check whether it is clean or infected by virus.
• If anti-virus program is running on your machine, when you receive an email with an attachment, it will protect you by scanning the attachment before you open it.

July 22^nd  :

Install anti-virus software and configure it to automatically update its definitions

• Use anti-virus software and update virus definitions regularly.
• If the anti-virus software is not updated after expiry date, the system may become vulnerable system for attacked by the viruses.
• If the viruses are once executed, they transmit copies of themselves to all of the names in the victim's e-mail address book. As a result, people who don't use antivirus software in their machines the viruses will be spread automatically
• Some of the viruses will delete or modify the files (which may contain important information) which are present in the system
• In order to avoid all these problems install anti-virus software and configure it to automatically update its definitions, this may help you in reducing the time in updating the software manually.

July 21^st  :

Secure your computers by downloading various application software updates from trusted web sites

• Always update your operating system with latest patche.
• Always download your application software from trusted websites. The certificate is signed by a certificate authority that the browser recognizes as a "trusted" authorit.
• Before downloading the software scan the file using latest anti virus software in order to protect your computer from viruses, worms and spam attacks.

July 20^th  :

Avoid downloading free antivirus software from non trusted web sites

• If you want to download any software, use product website or its company’s website to download it.
• Use trusted websites, or more reputed download websites to download any software form the Internet.
• Most of the spyware and viruses are installed with the freely available software.
• Even downloading antivirus software from non-trusted websites installs spyware and viruses.
• To avoid viruses and spyware, download antivirus software from trusted websites.
• To know more about antivirus and anti-spyware, go through the following links:

http://infosecawareness.in/downloads/isea_handbook/guidelines-to-prevent-spyware

July 19^th  :

Always scan the USB pen drive, Diskettes and removable hard disks for viruses before using it

• Now-a-days USB pen drives, removable hard disks are common throughout as they have considerable storage capacity and great for productive.
• And they have become cause for problems as pen drives and removable hard disks have become easiest carriers of viruses these days.

• As virus always creates an autorun.inf file which is a system, hidden and a read only file on your pen drive.
• It point to the main virus file which is also located on the pen drive. When user double clicks on the pen drive files pointed by the autorun.inf got executed which copies the virus files on your system.
• To protect from viruses through USB pen drive or removable media:
• Disable auto run feature on the removable drives (It’s a feature which starts the removable media on its own)
• Scan the removable media with latest updated anti-virus

July 18^th  :

Do not open attachments that has been sent by an unknown user

Virus may come in many ways. One of the methods is as an attachment in emails.

• Never open an attachment that has been sent by an unknown user
• Never open email attachments with file extensions like .exe, .vbs or with double extensions like .txt.exe
• Don’t open any email attachments if the subject line is doubtful
• Delete chain e-mails and other spam from your inbox and don’t forward or reply to those mails
• Do not open messages or click on links from unknown users in your instant messaging program
• Use a latest updated antivirus and scan the attachments before opening them

July 17^th  :

Ensure that virus defence software is installed and that it is configured appropriately for your systems

The effect of computer virus can cause in:

1. loss of information on the computer
2. will shutdown or restart without user intervention
3. corrupt the user computer’s data
4. can alter the normal commands of the operating system
5. can also damage the computer by formatting the drives

So ensure that virus defence software is installed and it is configured appropriately for your systems.

• Do not download any files from strangers.
• Delete chain emails and junk email
• Do not open any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source.
• Update your anti-virus software regularly

July 16^th  :

Enable desktop firewall to control unnecessary communications

• A desktop firewall or a personal firewall is an application which controls network traffic to and from a computer, permitting or denying communications based on a security policy.
• Personal firewalls are typically designed to use by the end users. They are intended to protect the systems on which they are installed.
• Some features of personal firewall:
• Provide the user with information about an application that makes a connection attempt
• Monitor applications that are listening for incoming connections
• Sometimes gathers malware and other unwanted programs if you don’t scan you computer everyday
• Used to control unnecessary communications channels and access to only necessary applications, such as sending and receiving email messages and surfing on the Internet.
• Personal firewall (Desktop firewall) comes integrated with almost every operating system.

For more information on the Firewall visit:
http://infosecawareness.in/parents/operating-system-security

July 15^th  :

Run the anti-spy ware and anti-virus program daily

Virus: A computer virus is nothing more than a computer program which is able to replicate and attach itself to programs or files infecting the host without its knowledge.

Spyware: As its name suggests, Spyware is software that stealthily collects an Internet user’s personal information (stealing the passwords, spying on the user’s documents, etc.,) without user permission.

To avoid virus and spyware:

• Update the antivirus and anti-spyware software regularly. Also update the operating system with the latest patches.
• Never click on the popup windows. Usually popup windows contain adware, spyware, by clicking can install dangerous software. Use popup blockers.
• Don’t download free antivirus or free antispyware programs that come as Junk e-mails. They itself act as a huge role in spreading virus.
• Never download any unknown plug in. They might contain spyware or virus.

So run the anti-spy ware and anti virus and scan the systems daily to remove virus and spyware.

July 14^th  :

Beware of the latest virus threats and behaviour which may help you in Detecting them

• To protect the system from virus one should have knowledge of each program or a file they download into their computer.
• The computers affected with the virus shows some symptoms. The major damage done by the different viruses vary. Different viruses have different fingerprints. (the way they behave)
  • A virus is a computer program which can copy itself or infect the system without the knowledge of the user. As a virus reproduces, it takes up space. This space cannot be used by the user.
  • The memory space is decreased as more and more copies of the virus are made.
  • Some viruses can simply format a disk. This will make the user to lose all the data on the disk.
  • A virus affected computer, may respond to the keystrokes pressed and misbehave to the normal commands.

Since it is difficult to know all the affects caused by a virus, we can use anti-virus software which can help the system by protecting it from virus.

July 13^th  :

Open the downloaded files after scanning with latest updated antivirus software

• Prevention is better than cure. Protecting the computer with anti-virus software is better than dealing with the virus affected computer.
• To protect the computer from the viruses:
• Use antivirus software and regularly update it.
• Scan the computer with the latest antivirus software.
• Don’t open the downloaded files without scanning them with the latest updated antivirus software.
• Don’t run unknown executable programs.
• Don’t download, open or execute files or attachments form unknown sources. Scan them with the latest updated antivirus software before opening the downloaded files.

July 12^th  :

Some viruses start executing as soon as they appear on the Outlook Express preview pane (window). So disable that option. To disable that option, go to view layout and uncheck show preview pane.

• In outlook and outlook express, there is a feature known as "Preview Pane". This option actually opens an email. This is an area of the screen where the contents of an email can be seen as soon as you highlight the email by simply clicking once on it.
• This has become very dangerous now-a-days, because many of the email viruses will run when email is opened without double clicking on an attachment or anything.
• Even an email from a trusted source means that it is virus free. If a virus infects the system, it will send itself to everyone in the address book. So if there is any doubt, don’t even open, just delete it?
• So never open turn on the email program’s "Preview Pane". The best option is to disable that option. To disable the Preview Pane option in Outlook Express, from the main menu, go to View Layout and Uncheck "Show Preview Pane".

July 11^th  :

Always update Operating System patches before using it

• Operating System is the important program that runs on the computer. It performs basic tasks like recognizing the input from the key board, controlling various files and directories in the hard disk and also various peripheral devices like printers, scanners etc.
• The security of the operating system running on various PCs and servers plays an important role in the security of the network as a whole.
• Not updating one system in the network may affect the security of the other systems in the network.
• Today we have a highly sophisticated operating system with lots of features, but it may be vulnerable if they are not administered, configured and monitored properly.
• Sometimes updating the operating system with latest patches may lead to interoperability issues with other operating system. Hence proper care should be taken while updating the operating system.

July 10^th  :

Scan the system with anti-virus software daily before usage
There are a lot of ways a computer virus may enter your system:

1. Through mail attachments
2. Downloading files from the unreliable web sites on the web
3. Copying data from CDs and pen drives without scanning, etc.,

To protect system from malware like viruses, worms, trojans, etc., scan the system with anti-virus software daily before using the system.

1. Install a reliable anti-virus program,
2. Scan email attachments before opening them,
3. Configure anti-virus software to start at boot time,
4. If you do have to download from the Internet, be sure to scan each program before running it. Save all downloads to one folder, then run virus checks on everything in the folder before using it,
5. Scan files for virus before using them,

So, Use antivirus software and keep it updated.
Some free antivirus software for home users: www.avast.com, free.avg.com

July 09^th  :

While using office documents, make sure that macro virus protection option is enabled

• A Macro virus is a computer virus that infects Microsoft Word and similar applications by inserting some undesirable text in to the documents or by making some changes to the documents.
• Do not send messages with attachments that contain executable code like Word documents with macros, .EXE files and ZIPPED files.
• We can use Rich Text Format (WordPad files) instead of the standard .DOC format. RTF will keep your formatting, but will not include any macros.

For more details of macro disabling in

   Word 2003, visit: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011403071033.aspx
   Word 2007, visit: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA100310711033.aspx

July 08^th  :

Scan the files with anti-virus software after you download it from the internet

• If you frequently download files from suspicious sites, check for viruses before you download, instead of waiting to see if your regular anti-virus software will detect.
• Make sure your antivirus is offering you proper protection by detecting the malicious code in your system
• Always keep the desktop firewall ON for the safer communication.

July 07^th  :

Always update antivirus software to protect from viruses

• Always update the anti virus, always scan the USB drives before opening
• Always keep windows firewall ON
• Once a program is installed, you must run it always, update it regularly, scan it for viruses daily and make sure that your computer is safe and secure
• Anti-virus software helps prevent infections from a wide range of malicious software  also called as malware
• Malware steal your passwords or other personal information etc

July 06^th  :

Always use the latest updated anti-spy ware program

• Spyware is a term used to describe software installed on your computer that displays advertisements and/or tracks and collects personal information
• This personal information includes User ID's, passwords, name and address
• Anti-virus software and anti-spyware software detect different types of malware
• Install and activate anti-spyware software on your computer in order to protect your computer from malicious code.

July 05^th :

Don’t enter sensitive information while working on internet at public places like cyber cafes, hotels etc

• Getting connected to the internet while on the road has become a necessity for many
• Never select the "Remember My ID" box on shared computers in many places, like libraries, schools, hotels, coffee house cyber cafes, etc
• If you enter your sensitive information like credit card details, banks etc use the https instead of http
• Always keep the firewall ON and use the updated operating system with regular patches
• Don't Forget to Sign Out Completely ,Change Passwords Frequently and Erase the Contents of the Browser's Cache

July 04^th :

Always use separate account and control the amount of access and privileges to the child

• When a child is using the computer online, security practices and characteristics have to take care
• These characteristics in the form of downloading the files which may contain some virus etc should be taken care
• When the child downloads the files in the computer it infects yours system
•  So the Childs are given user permission but not administrative privileges
• Always keep the firewall ON for the safer communication
• Install and update the Anti-Virus software with latest patches

July 03^rd :

Make sure your child knows the boundaries of what is allowed to do on computer; these boundaries should be appropriate for the child’s age and knowledge

• For children using computers, normal safeguards and security practices may not be sufficient.
• Children are innocent, curious and want to be independent. They may unintentionally visit a web site that infects the computer with virus.
• Children may become easy targets to online threats. To avoid these risks:
• Keep your computer in an open area, so that it will be easy to monitor the children computer activity.
• Make sure your child knows the boundaries of what is allowed to do online. These boundaries should be appropriate for the child's age, knowledge, and maturity including rules like web sites allowed visiting, software to be used, etc,.
• Be open to respond to the child’s questions or problems the children have encountered on the computer.
• Implement parental controls. Every web browser has the ability to set the parental controls. For example, Internet Explorer allows you to restrict or allow certain web sites to be viewed on your computer, and you can protect these settings with a password.

*For more information visit:  Parental controls and children safety.

July 02^nd

Check privacy policy of web sites as they may share your information such as email addresses or user preferences with other companies

• Check the company’s privacy policy before giving your email address or any other private information, when you buy something online or subscribe to a service like creating email account.
• Read the privacy policy of the company and consider carefully how the company uses private information.
• To see how your information will be used, who has the right to use it, and when it will be used check that the website has a privacy policy.
• Find out exactly how this website intends to use the information you provide, whether the company offers your email address or personal information to other companies or you really want to receive emails from that company.
• Checking the private policy of web sites is very important in reducing spam. If it doesn't have a privacy policy available - don't sign up.